Electric clock



March 1 H. c. BUNNIN I 7 ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed May 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HA ER) C Bu/v/w/v A ORNEYS March 31, 1942. H. c. BUNNIN 2,278,364

ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed May 4,1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HAIR/E7 C fiu/wvl/v ATTORNEY .5

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CLOCK Harry 0. Bunnin, Redford, Ohio Application May 4, 1939, Serial No. 271,751

2 Claims.

This invention is directed to improvements in electric clocks, and the general object thereof is the provision of an electrically-operated clock, which has the usual hour and minute hand operating arrangement and in addition thereto aclock status-indicating arrangement disposed exteriorly of the clock casing and which is operated in synchronism with the hour and minute hands of the clock by the clock-operating mechanism, when the clock is in operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an electric clock. operating mechanism, which incorporates a direct gear drive from the clock motor to ,a rotatable clock status-indicating element, disposed forwardly of the clock dial a d ro ed at such spe d s to not int fere with the convenient observance of the hour and minute hands of the clock mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an indirect illuminating arrangement for an electric clock dial, which may be incorporated within the clock casing and in the rear of the clock motor.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an electric clock mechanism, which is adaptable to the foregoing stated purposes, and in addition thereto is adaptable for use in novel clock casing designs, such as miniature replicas or imitations of aeroplanes, wind mills and other devices having enteriorly disposed rotatable ele-' ments.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following description, which refers to the accompanying drawings, the latter illustrating a preferred form of my invention.

The essential characteristics of this invention are summarized in the claims. I

In the drawings, Fig. l is a perspective view of an electrie clock, the casing of which is fashioned in replica of an aeroplane; Fig. 2 is an enlarged, central, cross-sectional elevation of part of the clock casing and showing the clock mechanism therein; Fig. 3 is a crossesectional view, taken through Fig. 2, substantially along the lines 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-section of a direct gear drive mechanism for operating the clock status-indicating means; 5 is a crosssectional view, taken substantially along the lines 5 :5 of Fig.2, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the lines 6-.-6 of Fig. 2.

My invention contemplates the provision of an electric clock-operating mechanism which can be compactly constructed and assembled as a unit, for convenient insertion within a clock casing preferably made in miniature simulation of an aeroplane, although the entire unit is adaptable to other casing formations fashioned in miniature simulation of various devices where a rotating element is exposed to observation, such, for example, as a windmill.

I have shown in the drawings of the present application, a casing designed or fashioned as a miniature imitation of an aeroplane of the monoplane type, and wherein the clock status-indicating means comprises a tri-blade propeller H] disposed forwardly of the clock dial. The motor clock-operating mechanism is arranged in such manner that the propeller can be mounted upon a spindle or shaft 1 I, projecting through the center of the clock dial and coaxially arranged relative to the hour and minute hand mountings, as will be hereinafter described. The gear ratios of the respective mechanisms, which drive the hour hand, the minute hand and the propeller Ill, are such that the propeller shaft H will be rotated at such a speed as to not obscure a convenient reading of the hour and minute hand positions relative to the numerals upon the dial of the clock. This speed may be about R. P. M.

It will be noted that the entire clock mechanism is mounted within ahousing or casing member l4, the rearward end of which is fitted to the body or fuselage structure 15 of the aeroplane styled casing, so that the entire clock mechanism may be assembled first within the casing member l4, whereupon the casing member l4 may be .attached to the forward end of the fuselage l5, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The motor 20 of the clock mechanism is disposed in the rear portion of the casing member l4, whereby when the casing assembly is effected, the motor terminals 2| and 22 of the motor field winding 26 will be brought into contact with a pair of contact members 23, to which are separately connected lead wires 24 and 25, the contact members 23 and the connections of the lead wires 24 and 25 thereto being affixed to the interior wall of the fuselage member l5 of the casing.

The electric motor for operating or driving the clock mechanism may be of one of any of the well known self-starting electric clock motor types and the support therefor may comprise a frame plate 28. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the motor is mounted upon the plate member 28 by any convenient means, such as screw members 28a, which serve to clamp the motor frame to the plate member 28. The plate member 28 comprises part of a unitary frame structure which serves to support bearings for the respective gearing mechanisms which drive the hour and minute hands, and for the propeller shaft II, and this frame may comprise an additional plate member 29, secured in spaced relation to plate 28 by spacing members 30 and screw members 3| and screw members 32. The screw members 3| serve to also clamp inwardly turned ends of flat spring members 33, the rear ends 34 of which are bent outwardly to spring or snap into an internally formed annular groove I4a, formed in the clock casing member [4, as shown in Fig. 2. The screw members 32 serve to clamp lug members 35 into firm engagement with the foiward face of the plate member 29, and these lug members 35 are shaped in such manner as to engage the rear side of a translucent dial member 37, to force the outer face portion of the dial member into contact with a compressing ring 38. The ring 38 engages the rear side of a crystal member 39 near its outer edge, thereby to force the crystal, member against a retaining flange I41), formed about the forward annular edge of the casing member l4. In addition to the mounting means described, I prefer to utilize a cylindrical spacer ring 40, formed of any suitable, durable material, upon which the lug members 35 rest.

The mounting arrangement just described for the crystal, the dial, the gearing mechanism and the motor is such that a substantial annular space is provided between the inner wall surface of the casing member l4 and the respective elements comprising the clock operating mechanism, whereby reflected light rays may pass from the rear of the clock mechanism forwardly and through an annular area of the face of the translucent dial member 3'1, thus effecting indirect illumination of the dial numerals 42. The source of light may comprise a light bulb 43, carried by a socket 44, secured to an inside wall of the fuselage or casing member I5, and if desired, a switch mechanism 45 may be provided within this casing member, which may be operated by a switch knob 45, in a well known manner. A branch connection 41 connects the lead wire 24 to the terminal 48 of the switch mechanism, and a conductor wire 49 connected to a terminal 50 of the switch mechanism 45, may be connected to one terminal of the lamp socket 44, while the other terminal of the lamp socket 44 may be connected to the lead wire 25 by a branch conductor wire 52, as shown in Fig. 2. Hence, when the switch 46 is turned on, the bulb 43 becomes a source of light for effecting indirect illumination of the outer annular portion of the translucent dial member 31, which carries the numerals as above stated.

The gear reduction mechanism of the clock is such that the minute hand is driven through spur and worm gear reduction trains, and the hour hand is driven by gear reduction trains mechanically coupled into the minute hand gear reduc tion train. The minute hand gear reduction train comprises a worm 53, mounted upon the end of a shaft 54 of the motor armature 55, (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3). The worm 53 meshes with a worm wheel 56 mounted upon a transversely extending shaft 51, the shaft 51 being supported by bearing members 58 secured to the forward face of the plate member 28, or upset therefrom in the form of lugs, as shown in Fig 3. The shaft 51 has formed thereon a worm 60, which meshes with a worm wheel 6|, carried by a shaft member 62, which is provided with a bearing carried by the frame plate 28. The shaft 82 carries a pinion 63, which meshes with an intermediate gear member 84, carried by a shaft 55, suitably mounted on a bearing supported by the plate member 28, and which shaft 65 carries a pinion 56. The pinion 66 meshes with another intermediate gear 68, mounted upon a shaft 69, carried by a suitable bearing, supported by or formed upon the plate member 28, and the shaft 63 carries a pinion ill, which meshes with a gear I l, frictionally carried by a sleeve or minute hand mountin 12. The sleeve 12 extends through an opening in the forwardly disposed frame plate 29. The outer end 12a of the sleeve 12 has secured thereto a minute hand 13. The sleeve 12 is suitably supported in operative position by a stationary tubular member or pintle 15, (see Fig. 4), which, as will be more fully described hereafter, comprises a bearing extending substantially from the rear frame plate 28 forwardly and through the center of the dial 31 and an opening 39a formed in the crystal 39, to support the shaft l I upon which the propeller I0 is mounted.

The means for driving the hour hand from the reduction gear drive which operates the minute hand, may comprise a pinion secured t the minute hand sleeve or mounting l2 forwardly of and adjacent the frame plate 29 which pinion meshes with an intermediate gear member 8|, the intermediate gear member being supported by a pintle 82, the latter being supported by the frame plate member 29. The intermediate gear shaft or pintle 82 supports a pinion member 83, which is driven by the intermediate gear member 8| and meshes with a gear member 18, which is carried by an hour hand mounting or sleeve 84. The sleeve 84 is independently rotatably carried by the minute hand sleeve 12. The hour hand sleeve or mounting 84 extends through the central openin formed in the translucent dial member 31, and has supported on the outer end thereof an hour hand 85. Thus, the hour hand drive is obtained by a train of gears driven by the minute hand mounting or sleeve 12.

It will be noted in the cross-sectional view. shown in Fig. 4, that the propeller shaft I l is supported within the bearing sleeve 15 by a bearing formation 88 supported by or formed upon the frame plate member 28 at its innermost rear end, while the forward end thereof is supported by a nut bearing 89, secured to the outer projecting end of the bearing sleeve 15. The bearing sleeve 15 is provided with a supporting plate member 90, and the plate member 90 is secured by screw members 9| to forwardly extending lugs 92, formed upon the rear frame plate member 23. Disposed between the plate member 90 and frame plate member 28 is a gear member 94, secured to the inner end of the propeller shaft H. The gear member 94 meshes with a pinion 95, secured to the shaft 54 of the motor armature 55, adjacent the worm member 53. It will be apparent that this arrangement permit the driving of the propeller shaft II through one gear reduction train, comprising the pinion 95 and gear member 94, directly from the motor shaft 54 and independently of the gear reduction train for driving the minute and hour hands, and the reduction ratio between the motor shaft 54 and the propeller shaft II is such that the propeller It will be rotated at such speed as to not obscure a ready reading of the relation of the hour and minute hands to the numerals on the clock dial.

If desired, means may be incorporated within the casing member M for setting the hour and minute hands. This means may comprise a barrel gear or barrel rack 98, in the form of a hollow cylinder having gear teeth formed on an end thereof, and which teeth mesh with the intermediate gear member 8|, the setting gear being suitably mounted upon a shaft 99, supported by a bearing I00, and which bearing is secured to the forward frame plate 29, there being a suitable opening formed in the plate 29 to afford space and clearance for the setting gear 98. Extending through the casing member [4 is a manually operated screw member I02, which is in threaded engagement at its inner end with an end of the setting gear shaft 99, and is provided at its outer end with a manual grip knob I03. By reason of the frictional drive engagement between the gear H and minute hand sleeve 12, slippage takes place therebetween when the hour and minute hands are being set manually.

From the foregoing description of one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that I have provided a translucent dial and have arranged the clock motor and hour and minute hands and drive mechanism, as well as a propeller drive mechanism in such manner that light may indirectly pass through the translucent dial from a source of illumination disposed interiorly of the clock casing rearwardly of the clock mechanism. The clock mechanism, and motor there for, the dial and crystal and propeller shaft and motor drive comprise a sub-assembly unit which can be inserted within a casing member, which, in the present instance, is formed to simulate the forward end of a fuselage structure, or aeroplane motor housing extending from the fuselage structure. The electric circuit of the illuminating means is arranged within the casing independently of the clock-operating mechanism, whereby, when the clock mechanism, dial and crystal are inserted within the casing member [4, and

the casing member I4 is brought into assembled relation with the body or fuselage part [5 of the clock casing, electrical connection is established between the field winding of the clock motor and the circuit which energizes the illuminating means, and the only elements to be added to the assembly comprise the bearing nut 89 and the propeller or clock status-indicating means 10, which is then mounted upon the outer end of the shaft I l and secured thereto by a small screw member I 05.

To those skilled in the art it will be apparent that one of the worm members 53 and 55 should have a left-hand screw formation so that the hour and minute hands will be driven in a clockwise direction through the gear trains herein before described.

It will be obvious that the casing may be formed of cast metal or moulded plastics, if desired, and that by reason of the rotating motion of the exteriorly disposed clock status-indicating means the running or non-running condition of the clock can be observed from a considerable distance from the clock dial.

I claim:

I. In an electric clock mechanism, the combination of a motor, a dial, an hour hand, a minute hand, coaxially arranged mountings for supporting the hour and minute hands, gear means driven by the motor for driving the hour and minute hand mountings, a transparent crystal disposed forwardly of the dial and hour and minute hands, said crystal having an opening formed therein, a shaft extending through said opening, clock status indicating means mounted coaxially with the hands upon the outer end of said shaft forwardly of the crystal and gear means interposed between the shaft of the motor and the last-named shaft for driving the latter in a counter-clockwise direction.

2. In an electric clock of the character described, a rotatable shaft extending through the dial and crystal of the clock and a bearing support extending through the dial and crystal for supporting the outer end of said shaft exteriorly of the crystal face, fastening means for securing the crystal to the bearing support and a clock status-indicating means carried by the extended end of the shaft.

HARRY C. BUNNIN. 

